a melancholy whore

It is not exactly the most helpful novel to be reading in the still of the sleepless night, especially in my current state of mind, but nevertheless I'm savouring every lush word. Deep in the throes, more like it, even though it is about a dirty old man's sex life, to put it crudely.

But confession time: I'm a shallow shallow person. I couldn't resist buying the book, even though I usually think hardcovers are a waste of money, because the cover was so beautifully dusky and the title so very -- sigh -- evocative.